Portuguese newspaper "A Bola" revealed the behind-the-scenes details of the crisis that erupted between Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portuguese national team, and Jorge Jesus, the team's head coach. The dispute began after the Al-Nassr captain was left on the bench during the match against Norway in the UEFA Nations League.
The situation escalated to the point where the president of the Portuguese Football Federation traveled urgently to Copenhagen to resolve the disagreement. (Read the full details)
Ronaldo and Jesus Dispute... It Started with Norway
Signs of the crisis emerged before the match against Norway, when Jesus decided not to start Ronaldo, justifying his decision by stating that the 41-year-old player needed to manage his energy due to the congested match schedule.
Ronaldo sat on the bench for the match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Portugal over Norway. After the game, Jesus stated that he had intended to bring Ronaldo on during the second half, but developments in the match led him to change his plan and leave him out.
Ronaldo Leaves Without Waiting for Teammates
As soon as the final whistle blew, Ronaldo left the pitch directly heading to the dressing room, while the other players went to the center of the field to greet the Portuguese fans.
This was the first time Ronaldo remained on Portugal's bench for an entire official match since Euro 2008.
Coffee, Phone... and a Brief Chat with Jesus
The Portuguese delegation then moved on to preparations for their match against Denmark, with the first training session held at Eleda Stadion in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The newspaper reported that Ronaldo arrived at the stadium with the Portuguese squad but appeared on the pitch alone about half an hour before the training session started.
He was seen drinking coffee while occupied with his phone, before Jesus approached him. The two exchanged words for a few seconds, after which Ronaldo left and did not return for the group training.
Why Did Ronaldo Leave the Stadium?
The newspaper clarified that Ronaldo was scheduled to undergo a training program in the gym, but it lacked the necessary equipment. Consequently, he returned to the hotel alone via bus.
Two Days Without Group Training for Ronaldo
The crisis worsened due to Ronaldo's lack of normal participation in group training sessions, specifically starting from the day before the match against Norway.
In the training session following the Norway match, Ronaldo completed an individual program, before repeating this the next day and leaving the training ground to head back to the hotel.
What Angered Ronaldo?
According to "A Bola," Ronaldo was dissatisfied with how Jesus managed his involvement in the match against Norway; he did not expect to remain on the bench for the entire game.
